How to Dress for a Job Interview on an Unemployed Man's Budget

Or at least the budget of a man looking for a bigger paycheck. The good news in an otherwise treacherous employment market? The suit is out there. Herein, a few tips on dressing above your price point.

Inexpensive suits are often badly styled, ill-fitting, and made with flat-looking cloth. But it is possible to find something with the right construction and solid cloth, like this fantastic ensemble from JOE by Joseph Abboud ($360, including jacket and pants), coming out at JCPenney this fall. It won't outdo your potential future boss so much as tell him that you really want the job — and won't spend the whole day looking in the mirror once you get it. And as long as it's made with decent-enough material, a lower-end suit that offers details like these can help you snag a new gig without looking cheap.

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The Shoulder: One Size Does Not Fit All

The English have an expression: "They were all over me like a cheap suit." Manufacturers produce suits so they're big enough to fit everybody — but that doesn't mean they fit everybody well. The easiest way to elevate your appearance is by looking for tightness in all the right places, particularly the arms and shoulders. That way, you won't need all the padding of a Dynasty man.

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The Lapel: Some Flair, but Not Too Much

Peaked lapels like the ones on the JOE jacket (which sells as a separate for $240) are usually reserved for more expensive suits. Yet they offer an easy dash of flash to a cheaper one, without going the leopard-skin route. Another subtle decoration: the gray-mélange herringbone fabric has hints of both black and white, so it won't go flat and shiny after a couple dry-cleanings. And it goes with everything. That kind of style-consciousness saves more than it costs.

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The Arm: It Defines Your Whole Shape

Sleeves shouldn't extend past the base of your thumb, but just as important is what they do for the rest of your body. "Waist suppression" is a fancy tailoring term for cloth that's been darted and taken in from the armhole to the hem. The resulting contours give the suit's wearer the appearance of a male torso, even where one might not actually exist. Those "Have you been working out?" comments in the office elevator just got a lot easier to stomach.

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The Tie: Take Your Time with It

A simple, well-tied tie says far more about your employability than something flashy. (So does a crisp white shirt, and this one's only $42.) Go slowly, and finish it off with a perfect dimple. Choose a subdued pattern (plain navy works fine). Co-workers will know you're precise, not trying too hard. With that in mind, avoid narrow ties — they smack of trendiness. Three-and-a-half inches at the widest point is the best measurement of a man's success. That and, you know, answering the actual questions in the interview.

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